Brave New World by Aldous Huxeley and THX 1138 - Book Report/Review Example

Extract of sample Brave New World by Aldous Huxeley and THX 1138

A reflective analysis of Brave New World and THX 1138 confirms that both the works effectively deal with several pertinent themes of the modern world including sexuality, technology, reproduction, drugs, and space which are closely tied into human control and freedom. This paper makes a comparative analysis of the novel by Aldous Huxley and the film by George Lucas in order to determine the importance of control and freedom in human life.
In a profound analysis of Brave New World and THX 1138 realizes that both the works essentially deal with similar themes including sexuality, technology, reproduction, drugs, and space and these are closely tied into human control and freedom. Aldous Huxley, in his famous novel Brave New World (1931), effectively expresses his expectation of the advancements that can take place in reproductive technology and sleep-learning which can change the society in a drastic way. In a similar way, the science fiction film by George Lucas, THX 1138 (1971), is concerned with a dystopian future of humanity. In this society, individuals are faced with a high level of control which is the result of the enforced use of drugs that hold back human emotions including sexual desire. Another form of control over the human beings is that of the ubiquitous, faceless, machine police officers. The scenes from the movie THX-1138 offer a very surreal and frightening depiction of a possible future which is marked by unparalleled control by machine police officers and everyone everywhere experiences control and power. The director presents the society as affected by indifference and passivity and he is effective in portraying a very classic conflict of the individual versus society. The use of technology has been very important in the director's strategy to present control over human beings and control is related to sexuality, technology, reproduction, drugs etc in the movie. In the second part of the film, when the control is exhibited through technology such as 'mind lock and arrest', this connection between control and technology becomes lucid. "The problem with being off the drugs is that THX can no longer perform his duties at work. In the middle of a dangerous operation, THX drops some radioactive material. Instantly, those in control measure his biological signs and recognize that he has a severe sedation depletion, which requires a "mind lock and arrest." The short-term problem is that by putting THX in a mind lock, he can't pick up what he dropped and an explosion is imminent until they release the mind lock." (Glettler, p. 3). Therefore, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and THX 1138 by George Lucas deal with several pertinent themes of the modern world including sexuality, technology, reproduction, drugs, and space which are closely tied into human control and freedom.
In his Brave New World, Aldous Huxley (1894-1963), who has been recognized as an important writer and social satirist, makes a serious criticism about the uncontrollable faith in the benefits of scientific advance and mass production. This is his fifth novel and first attempt at a dystopian work and the novelist is effective in producing a satirical piece of fiction which deals with the essential issues concerning human society in
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Summary

The advancements in science and technology in the contemporary world have influenced the progress of literature and film which reflect the themes and topics of these developments. With the development of science fiction, literature as well as film industry has found a new way to represent the issues concerning humanity in the background of scientifically and technology advanced world…

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1 pages (250 words)Book Report/Review

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